Tiriac wants fluorescent tennis balls...

Madrid tournament owner Ion Tiriac tells DPA that despite the controversy over his selection of blue clay for the event, he is already working on another innovation: Phosphorescent green or orange balls. "We will improve the ball well," he said. "We think it fluorescent green or fluorescent orange, which grabs more light and works best in contrast with the blue clay."

Tiriac added that he has yet to consult the ATP about the new balls. He did admit that the new surface is too slippery and needs to be fixed, but added that, "two weeks ago in Monte Carlo [on red clay] three players broke their legs. Today, after five days of the tournament, I am more convinced than ever that the blue clay is a great step forward."

The Romanian does not believe there is danger that ATP will force the tournament to return to red clay next year.

Madrid tournament owner Ion Tiriac tells DPA that despite the controversy over his selection of blue clay for the event, he is already working on another innovation: Phosphorescent green or orange balls. "We will improve the ball well," he said. "We think it fluorescent green or fluorescent orange, which grabs more light and works best in contrast with the blue clay."

Tiriac added that he has yet to consult the ATP about the new balls. He did admit that the new surface is too slippery and needs to be fixed, but added that, "two weeks ago in Monte Carlo [on red clay] three players broke their legs. Today, after five days of the tournament, I am more convinced than ever that the blue clay is a great step forward."

The Romanian does not believe there is danger that ATP will force the tournament to return to red clay next year.

I still think that the color blue isn't THAT big of a deal IF they can get the court to play as other clay courts do, which I'm sure is possible. Granted, if so many players are against it, why upset them?

And, it's really on their shoulders to do something about it, either by speaking up (which they have), or not showing up.

I definitely dont support this on the pro tour (yet I guess) but I do wonder at if fluorecent tennis balls. Never found any in any store, but the idea intruiges me. I played fire tennis before and it was quite fun, except I dun want to scorch up the courts and my strings lol
nevertheless, fluorescent balls are fine, just not on the pro tour, especially on clay